Buddies ECU was suspect in his 98 OB. I pulled the ECU and in the process broke the plastic tab pictured. Checked against another ECU with same broken tab and neither one will read now. ODBII scanner will power on when plugged in, but will not connect to scan for codes. Scanner is good. Tried playing and pushing on the back of the OBDII port with no change. Is there something important about that tab? Or did I blow a fuse somewhere in this process? I can swap engines and transmissions on these cars no problem but I'm not great with electronics.

 

The main thing is to get that it's not a "tab".  It's a locking lever that keeps the connectors mated and engaged rather than vibrating apart and bringing everything to a halt.  Normally the function of those locks is purely mechanical, but it's possible for an interlock switch to be integrated into it, so that the system won't work if it's not in the mated+locked position.  I don't think Subaru did this, but I'd have to dig up a spare ECU here and confirm.

But from this photo it doesn't look broken.  Does it actuate and lock the harness connector?

Edited May 31, 20223 yr by jonathan909